Google has finally added App Store privacy leaflets to its Gmail app for iOS devices – more than a month after it became aware to delay its app updates on Apple’s platform so they don’t stick to the new privacy regime. Instead of releasing a new version, the search giant has silently added privacy tags to the Gmail app. This means you won’t get new features or bug fixes, but some information will be provided about how Gmail collects your data.
As first reported by MacRumors, Gmail for iOS on the App Store has started showing privacy leaflets, recommending what all data will be taken from you and shared through the app. The privacy tags associated with the Gmail listing indicate that the app shares your location and user ID with advertisers. It also collects information about your interactions with advertisements.
Gmail also collects unique data for analytics, based on the privacy tags that appear on the App Store. That data includes your email address, content such as photos and video and audio data, search history, and location information. The app is also recommended for collecting your contact information and search history, as well as the way you interact with it to provide personalized experience. Further, the privacy statements recommend that Gmail collects details such as your location, name, and notifications for app enablement.
It is important to note that Gmail is not the only email client that has privacy tags showing user data collection. Other such apps have other privacy labels including Apple’s Mail, Microsoft Outlook, and Hey.
App Store privacy tags on Gmail, Apple’s Mail, Microsoft Outlook, and Hey listings
The privacy leaflets available on the App Store that were released in December are specifically for disclosing the data that a particular app may be collecting. However, the labels rely solely on a self-reported basis by developers and are not certified by Apple. The App Store also does not provide clear details about the purpose of data collection and whether it was collected regularly or just to enable a particular feature.
Some app developers, including WhatsApp, argued that the App Store’s privacy labels are anti-competitive and give Apple an unfair advantage. A recent report by the Washington Post pointed out that many of the apps on the App Store displayed fake labels because they were not reviewed by the iPhone maker, although they promised to manually review apps which do not represent their data collection. right.
That said, Gmail has become the second app by Google to receive privacy leaflets since the company made the same change earlier for their YouTube app. However, the Gmail app, unlike the YouTube one, has not received a new update. In fact, it last received its update two months ago.
In addition to Gmail and YouTube, other popular Google apps such as Chrome, Maps, and Photos have yet to get privacy tags on the App Store. Google reportedly promised to release privacy leaflets for its iOS apps last month.
Does WhatsApp’s new privacy policy spell the end of your privacy? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly tech podcast, which you can subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the program, or just hit the play button below.